What You Should Know:
League has always had a strong connection with environmental issues. We are a coalition partner with the Cool Cities Coalition.
Why You Should Care:
It's important to pay attention to the groups that organizations you care about affiliate with. One organization can't do it all, but by partnering with other groups and showing support, just maybe together we can make a difference in specific issues that matter.
2012 Calendar of Local Eco-Events
Posted in collaboration with Glen Ellyn Cool Cities Coalition
Follow Jeff Gahris' Cool Cities Blog
February 12-21 is the next round to count stars when there is no moon in in the sky. Globe at Night is easy and fun. - http://www.globeatnight.org/
February 25 - Scarce Recycling Extravanganza - what to recycle
February 24, Concert and Photo Exhibit to Combat Coal in Central Illinois, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm, Warren Tavern, 3S540 Second Street, Warrenville, http://triblocal.com/wheaton/community/stories/2012/02/concert-to-combat-coal-in-central-illinois/
Photos by Joe Dick http://www.shootingstarsinc.com/
March 9 - Dirty Business and Sinking the Heartland. The Sierra Club and Just Views of the DuPage Peace through Justice Coalition are co-sponsoring a showing of two movies, Dirty Business, an exploration of the coal industry’s “clean coal” publicity campaign and Sinking the Heartland, an examination of long wall mining in central Illinois. The movies will be followed by audience discussion. Location: DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church 1828 Old Naperville Road, 7:20 p.m.
March 25, 2 pm - "Green Readin", Plum Library, Lombard, http://illinois.sierraclub.org/rpg/
The March discussion will be on Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Kingsolver takes readers through the seasons, chronicling the joys and challenges of eating only foods that she, her husband, and two daughters grew in their backyard or purchased from neighboring farms.
March 26 - Deadline for seeking funding for solar panels at schools, http://www.illinoiscleanenergy.org/k-12-solar/
March 31, 8:30 pm - Have you made plans for Earth Hour? http://www.earthhour.org/
April 28, Great Western Trail Cleanup, http://www.friendsofthegreatwesterntrails.com/
Various dates - GLOBE at Night, observing, measuring and reporting sky brightness from light pollution at night, http://www.globeatnight.org/ ( a great educational and family activity).
Other information -
We are blessed by more good info from SCARCE http://www.scarceecoed.org/publications/ripples/333-jan-2012-ripples.html
Glen Ellyn Cool Cities has a blog, and is welcoming guest bloggers - see http://glenellyn-coolcities.blogspot.com/
Watch the story unfold in 2012: We have been contacted by a contractor that is assisting ComEd and Nicor with the new home energy assessment program (see article below). As information becomes available, we will gladly share it with you. This program may be much more rewarding than anything the local utilities have offered in the past.
Article: "Taking Advantage of a Home Energy Assessment", by Cindy Ward, DuPage Sierran newsletter
ComEd and NICOR Gas currently make home energy savings assessment available to customers in DuPage County. The result is a personalized report including recommendations to help increase the energy efficiency of a home. I recently had an in-home assessment, and found it to be very useful. A professional came armed with CFL’s, foam pipe covers, an energy efficient showerhead, an infrared scanner and plenty of advice.
On the main floor he started by replacing light bulbs. He would replace a standard bulb with a CFL. Since I had converted some time ago, he gave me some for a new 3-bulb lamp. He replaced the 10-year-old water-saver showerhead with a new one, and changed the aerators on the sink faucets. Both increased the pressure of the water. For an additional $22 he would install a programmable thermostat, but I already had one in my home. In the basement he analyzed the efficiency of the furnace and tested ventilation of the water heater. While there, he wrapped the hot water pipes to reduce the amount of heat lost. Finally, he pulled out his infrared scanner and showed me all the areas of my home where I was losing heat. This was worth the cost of the assessment. It took the mystery
out of the origins of the drafts in my 1950’s build house and showed where it needed insulation.
At the end of the visit I received a written report of the recommendations and the estimated cost of the improvements. If I were to use the recommended company there is a rebate of 50% of the cost up to $1250 available through Nicor, but there was no sales pressure.
Now, if you want to look into having a home energy savings assessment done, you can schedule an appointment by calling 877.821.9988. It is currently available to residents in DuPage County who are customers of ComEd and Nicor and costs $99.
Jeffrey Gahris
Glen Ellyn Cool Cities Coalition
